ctags - How to automatically update tag file in vim?

Question

I use vim C++ tag file for navigation using Ctrl-]. The problem is whenever some file gets modified, the links are no longer valid and I have to re-run ctags and update the tag file. Our code base is huge and it takes quite a while for generating tag file.

Is there any tool which periodically updates the tag file in background? Can I configure VIM to do the same?

I use gvim under Windows.

question from:https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1157410/how-to-automatically-update-tag-file-in-vim

Answer 1

Further to Blixtor's answer, you'll need to think a little carefully about the design of the script. I'd recommend segregating the design such that the autocommand uses the Windows "start" command or similar to run an external script (in the background)

: thereby preventing Vim from being unresponsive while the tag file is generated. That script could then generate the tag file using a different file name (i.e. not "tags": ctags -R -o newtags .) and, when ctags is complete, delete tags and rename newtags to tags. This will prevent the tag file from being unavailable in Vim while the generation is done.